{"id":20,"date":"2016-08-22T16:18:36","date_gmt":"2016-08-22T13:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/?page_id=20"},"modified":"2016-08-25T11:50:48","modified_gmt":"2016-08-25T08:50:48","slug":"seven-churches-of-asia-minor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/?page_id=20","title":{"rendered":"Seven Churches of Asia Minor"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>
The Seven Churches of Asia Minor<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI john, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,\u00a0was in the island that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and\u00a0for the testimony of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard\u00a0behind me a great voice, as of a\u00a0trumpet. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what you see, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus<\/strong>, and unto Smyrna<\/strong>, and unto Pergamum<\/strong>, and unto Thyatira<\/strong>, and unto Sardis<\/strong>, and unto Philadelphia<\/strong>, and unto Laodicea<\/strong>. And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.\u201d The Revelation 1:9-12<\/p>\n

Anatolia (Asia Minor) has been the center of Christianity ever since St.Paul, St.Peter, St.John, St. Barnabas and their companions John Mark, Silas, Luke came here to preach the Gospel of the teachings of Jesus Christ. This trip will allow you full insight into the achievements of these early Christian missionaries and the Seven Churches of The Revelation.<\/p>\n

Day 1 Istanbul Arrival<\/strong>
\nArrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. After check in, free time. Dinner and Overnight. (D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 2\u00a0Istanbul Full Day City Tour<\/strong>
\nFollowing the breakfast we drive to the “Old City<\/strong>“,\u00a0we will stop by the Hippodrome<\/strong> before proceeding to the Blue Mosque<\/strong>, so called because of the impressive Iznik (Nicea) blue tiles lining its walls.<\/p>\n

Then we will go into the St. Sophia Church Museum<\/strong>. Following this stop, we will go to the Underground Cistern<\/strong> built by Justinian in 535. After lunch we will drive Church Museum (The Church of Holy Savior)<\/strong> to see breathtaking frescoes and mosaics from 14th century. The church is a remarkable example of Byzantine art.
\nDinner and overnight. (B,L,D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 3\u00a0Istanbul – Pergamon – Thyateria – Izmir<\/strong>
\nAfter an early breakfast flight to Izmir. Arrive and drive north to the hauntingly beautiful Pergamon. Pergamum<\/strong>\u2019s place in religious history is largely because of the paragraph addressed to its Christian believers by St. John in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 2:12-17 ). He characterized Pergamum as the place where Satan was enthroned.
\n(Revelation 2:13).<\/p>\n

St. John saw a group hecalled the Nicolatinas as an additional threat to the believers. Who\u00a0thesepeople were is not clearly known. ( Revelation 2:14-15 ) St. John condemned them for adultery andfor eating food that had been sacrificed to pagan gods. St. John also promised a white stone andhidden mannato those who repented of their false beliefs and immoral behavior (Revelation 2:16-17).<\/p>\n

On our way back to Izmir, we will stop by Thyteria<\/strong> which is a small modern city today. The old Thyatira, the site of one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor<\/strong> (Rev. 2:18-29 ). St. John\u2019s Criticism of Thyatira in Revelation was related to the prophetess Jezebel. Whether she was a real woman of that name or whether he intended her as a symbol of licentiousness, St. John saw the challenge to\u00a0Christianity which Thyatira represented as a moral decay among the members. To those who refused to compromise with their ideals he promised \u201c the star of dawn\u201d and \u201c authority over the nations\u201d.<\/p>\n

About forty years previous to the time that St. John wrote those words to the congregation in Thyatira, St. Paul had met one of the merchants from there when he arrived in Philippi. This was on his second Journey. The merchant
\nwas Lydia, a woman dealing in expensive purple cloth. Under St. Paul\u2019s influence she and her whole household became baptized Christians. Lydia she insisted that St. Paul and his companions Timothy and St. Luke should stay in her house in Philippi ( Acts 16:13-15 ). By the end of the 1st century here must have been a sizable Christian community for St. John to have chosen it as one of his seven churches. Drive to Izmir for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 4\u00a0Izmir – Sardis – Philadelphia -Pamukkale<\/strong>
\nDeparture from hotel after breakfast and drive to Sardis, whose history dates back to 12th century BC, was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia. In the book of Revelation (Rev. 3:1-6), St.John stated that Sardis needed to wake up.<\/p>\n

He complained that their acts did not live up to their reputation, that they did not finish what they started. But he\u00a0held out the hope those who were not polluted that they should have robes of white (Revelation 3:5) White was the color then of righteousness and immortality.<\/p>\n

Then we will visit Philadelphia. During Byzantine times Philadelphia was the seat of a Christian bishopric. Its significance in Christian history was because it congregations addressed by St.John in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 3:7-13).\u00a0Although one of the Seven Churches, Philadelphia was the least distinguished; it was the only one about which St. John had no real criticism. He characterized it as having been given an open door. He told the Christians not to leave anyone take away their crowns and promised that those who were victorious would become pillars in God\u2019s temple.\u00a0\u201cHold fast to what you have, and let no one rob you of your crown\u201d (Revelation 3:11). Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale (B,L,D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 5\u00a0Pamukkale \u2013 Hierapolis – Laodicea Ad Lycum – Kusadasi<\/strong>
\nAfter breakfast we leave our hotel and drive to Hierapolis<\/strong> but before we get here we stop at Laodicea Ad Lycum<\/strong>.\u00a0The site of one of the Seven Churches<\/strong> addressed by St. John in the Book of Revelation ( Rev. 3:14-22 ), Laodicea is on a low hill on the south bank of the Lycus River (Curuksu). As a commercial center, it had a large Jewish community. For St.John in Revelation, the Christians of Laodicea were neither hot nor cold and because of their indifference he wanted to spew them out of his mouth. \u201c I know all your ways, you are neither hot or cold. How I wish you were either hot or cold. Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth\u201d\u00a0(Revelation 3:15-17)<\/p>\n

St. John promised in \u201c the words of the Amen\u201d (Revelation 3:14) that for those who were sensitive enough to hear and respond to what was being said, the Spirit would join them in the great feast. \u201cHere I stand knocking at the door; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sit down to supper with him and he with me\u201c (Revelation 3:20) Then we will drive to Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight.\u00a0(B,L,D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 6\u00a0Kusadasi-Basilica of St. John-Ephesus\u2013House of Virgin Mary\u2013Izmir<\/strong>
\nThis morning we will stop by the Basilica of St. John “The Evangelist”<\/strong> who came here with Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospel in Ephesus. Then we will carry on to Ephesus<\/strong> ancient city. People visiting Ephesus today can visualize the city when it was the capital of the province.<\/p>\n

St. Paul preached and taught in Ephesus for over 2 years.\u00a0During that time he sent Timothy<\/strong> and Erastus<\/strong> to Macedonia to continue the missionary work there.\u00a0The names of several other earlyChristians are recorded as residents of Ephesus. Among them are the eloquent Apollos<\/strong> withwhom St. Paul associated himself, saying that he planted, that Apollos watered, but that God gave the growth (I Cor. 3 :6)<\/p>\n

A couple, Priscilla and Aquilla<\/strong>, established a house church in Ephesus (I Cor. 16:19). The daughters of the Apostle Philip lived in Ephesus. A small stone building high up on the west corner of the city wall is pointed out as\u00a0St. Paul\u2019s Prison<\/strong>.\u00a0He wrote the letter to the Ephesians from this place.<\/p>\n

In Ephesus highlights include Double Church<\/strong> where in 431 the Third Ecumenical Council<\/strong> was held, the Library of Celcius<\/strong>, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Theater<\/strong> for many Christians the best-known building in Ephesus where a 1st century AD silversmith attempted to stir up a riot to get rid of St. Paul who was damaging his business of making images of Artemis.<\/p>\n

About 3 miles away in the forested mountain above Ephesus is House of Virgin Mary<\/strong>. Today it is visited by pilgrims from all over the world. It is a modest stone house. St John<\/strong> brought Virgin Mary\u00a0to Ephesus in keeping with Jesus\u2019s admonition to him to care for his mother. (John 19:27)<\/p>\n

House of Virgin Mary, is now visited by over a hundred thousand pilgrims each year. The pilgrims come to drink the waters of the sacred spring, to mediate, to pray for health, and to breathe the atmosphere of if. You will be able to collect some holly water from the Sacred Spring<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Both Pope Paul VI in 1967 and Pope John Paul II in 1979 have celebrated mass here. Many people congregate at this sanctuary every August\u00a015 to observe the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin<\/strong>. It was first identified in 1818 by an Austrian peasant, Anne Catherine Emmerich, who saw it in adream exactly as it was found. The setting is beautifully peaceful, encouring reverence andcontemplation. Dinner and overnight in Izmir. (B,L,D)<\/p>\n

Day 7\u00a0Izmir (Smyrna) \u2013 Istanbul<\/strong>
\nWe will drive to Izmir ( Smyrna ) which was one of the Seven Church in St. John\u2019s Book of Revelation ( Rev. 2:8-11 ) as the place of the synagogue of Satan. St. John tells the Christians that they are about to suffer for their faith, but also says that those who are faithful unto death will gain a crown of life. After lunch transfer to the Izmir airport for flight to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B,L,D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 8\u00a0Istanbul Departure
\n<\/strong>Free till transfer to the airport. (B)<\/p>\n

For specifically interested parties, the program may include one day\u00a0visit to\u00a0Patmos Island (Greece) where St. John wrote the book of Revelation.<\/strong><\/span><\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Seven Churches of Asia Minor \u201cI john, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,\u00a0was in the island that...","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-20","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4087,"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20\/revisions\/4087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pilgrimagetoturkey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}